“Oil steadies as U.S. seen unlikely to sanction Russian exports”

Feb 25, 2022 | Markets

An independent (financial adviser’s) view

And of course there’s oil and the oil price. This has fallen as it seems we and the Europeans have decided (rather pathetically) to carry on buying Putin’s oil and gas; the Americans have their own of course, so they’re alright, Jack. Although the price is around $100 a barrell, which sounds horrific, it has been higher than that 4 or 5 times in the last 10 years, and was $150 in 2008, during various crises mostly now forgotten. And there is talk that this may speed up our to carbon-neutral, simply because we won’t have a choice. Maybe that’s the push we need; just not a very nice way to get it.

Read more here

“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”

“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”

Why did she/they (in the old sense) think that tinkering around with IHT and CGT would be enough to sort out the NHS; and the potholes; and…and the list goes on. My guess is  that they asked the Treasury for a list of anything not involving income tax that they could get away with lightly, although they should already have learned from the winter fuel stuff that all publicity is not good publicity.